Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop
I'm planning on doing the coast to coast from my home in Sheffield there and back in one big loop. I have a budget of 9 days but reckon I can do 8 at a push. The daily plan is as follows
Sheffield - Clitheroe - I fancy going over the Trough of Bowland but the more direct route appears to head from Hebden Bridge to Malham and then cut across to the Lakes.
Clitheroe - Skelwith Bridge* - Depends on the above
Skelwith Bridge* to Whitehaven - I'm a bit stuck here. I either ride on alot of busy road with high mileage or go over Eskdale taking in Hardknotts and Wyrnose. Which I quite fancy but fear it could kill my knees on day 3 of a tour carrying all my own kit. Alternatively I could do my own C2C starting from Barrow-in-Furness.
From Whitehaven follow the C2C route to Newcastle, then down to Sunderland and loop back to Consett following C2C signs and camp at Consett.
Consett to Muker
Muker to Appletreewick / Bradford
Then home
Any pointers much appreciated. I'm not scared if the big passes but worried I might blow up. Alternatively I just go to the Lakes and back in a leisurely fashion and leave the C2C and do as normal. I haven't done much training for this and it works out at 60 miles a day for 8 days. I fully anticipate spending 10 hours a day in the saddle.
I will post on C2C forum but I havent activated my account yet
i wouldnt worry about the passes, they are steep yes! but they arent much bigger than some of the big hills on the c2c... between penrith and stanhope theres a lot of big hills! you can always walk a bit.... hardknott is bloomin steep, but stick it in your granny gear and battle on! 😉 very nice scenery up there too! watched the sunset on hardknott two nights ago with my girlfriend fantastic view... aahh how romantic
Just done the C2C last Saturday. The central section from Penrith to Stanhope is quite tough, especially with luggage. The first big climb up Hartside isn't as bad as you might fear BUT - it does set the tone for the next 30+ miles. By the time you reach Parkhead above Stanhope you'll not want to see another bloody hill! 😆
Personally i'd camp near Penrith & hit the big hills early & fresh.
The last section from Consett to the coast is ugly & a continous urban conurbation so camping opportunies might be scarce.
I did a similar route last year around the Dales and North Pennines and had knee problems by the end of it. If I plan to do it in 8 I've always got the 9th day for contingency.
Hebden/Skipton area/Malham is the way i'm planning to go when i ride to my friends nr Cockermouth.
As a Consett dweller I can't think of or recommend any really good campsites, although there may be one at Bee Cottage (Rowley/Waskerley). Almost certainlly something around Stanhope though.
If I was headed south out of Consett I'd use the Lanchester valley walk down towards Durham, I'm sure it links into some more sustrans routes.
Let me know when your coming through, I live right on the track, so if you don't fancy carting the luggage down to the coast and back you could drop it in the garage for the day. Who knows, If it's unny and I'm not at work I could be tempted to go for a ride...
Muddydwarf - I was thinking that, it looks more direct. Where from Malham to get to Cockermouth, I presume through Keswick?
I was thinking from Ingleton to head across and eventually get to Bowness and get the ferry across Windermere to Hawkshead
Yeah, i was thinking of camping somewhere between Malham & Settle (ish) and then heading through Windermere/Ambleside & over to Keswick before heading off to Cockermouth & beyond.
Only really at the planning stage as yet, not actually got the time off work yet!
Oliverd1981 - Any idea on these campsites? UK Campsites suggest they're Ok
Manor Park Caravan Park at Broadmeadows
Allensford camping park at Castleside
Byreside Caravan site at Hamsterley
Theres a camp site at the end of the Lanchester Valley way that Oliverd mentions (ie outskirts of Durham) theres a caravan site in Rookhope that might do tents, also a few caravan sites Stanhope/Wearvalley area.
The Lanchester Valley way (or whatever its called) goes on to Barnard Castle, that might put your in the right direction for Muker?
Is the Lanchester valley way a sustrans / traffic free route?
Good call - Just past Barnard castle there's a Bridleway that takes you up to Tan Hill
*lights cigar*
You could go to the west then take the Hadrians Cycle way back over then down.
Pieface the lanchester way is an old railroute,so is traffic free bar a couple of road crossings. Really scenic too. The campsite I mentioned is at the junction of the route that continues to Barnard Castle (29 miles IIRC)
Allensford is a council/excouncil caravan park, and is just on the edge of civililisation so it is prone to be a bit chav infested - not somewhere I'd pitch a tent.
Broadmeadows is a really quiet little hamlet, not seen the site itself, but it would certainly be nice and quiet (no pub).
Hamsterley might be off your route a little, but again it's peaceful up there and if the site take tents it would be a fair bet.
I did camp somewhere near eggelstone about 15 years ago that wasn't too bad...
Hi, my route is coming together but some help with a little section would be appreciated. I've been advised that the Lanchester Valley way can be used to link Consett down to Barnard Castle. My plan is on leaving Consett to follow Sustrans route 14 to Durham. Here I keep heading south where route 14 shoots off west and follow a bridleway along the disused railway. Once I get to Bishop Aukland the route fizzles out and there is no obvious way marked on the map to get me to Barnard Castle.
I don't mind riding the roads but if there is a continuation to the disused railway that would be appreciate as they tend to offer nice traffic free miles.
Def don't worry about Hard Knott and Wrynose. They won't kill you.
Edit: and very satisfying when you're riding past cars that have failed to make it, sat there with the hood up smoking! 😉
Pieface, dont know the route to Barney but there's a signpost at the Durham end of the Lanchester Valley Way that says "Barnard Castle 29 miles" so I imagine it will be waymarked from Bishop.
When are you planning this? I might have time to go and do a bit exploring for you.
But failing that you get from Bishop to Barney on some quiet roads